TASD Weekly PAWS 12/21/22

Hello TASD Families,

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year as Tomah Area School District begins Winter Break! We’re nearly done with our first semester of the school year, and I look forward to the opportunities ahead as we come back to school in 2023! Please stay safe as dangerous weather is forecast for the next few days. My special wishes to you all for a safe, restful, and enjoyable Winter Break with friends and family!

At their December 19, 2022, Regular Board of Education meeting, Tomah Area School District Board of Education members discussed and approved an amount of $2.5 million for four years for a non-recurring operational referendum. These extra monies will be used to maintain and enhance educational and technology programs, school safety and security, and school facilities, and to maintain current levels of operational expenses. The next step for the Board of Education is to hold a Special Board meeting on Monday, January 2, 2023, to approve the two resolutions for the Operational Referendum. The first resolution will be to authorize the TASD budget to exceed the revenue limit by $2,500,000 per year for four years for non-recurring purposes. The second resolution will be to approve the referendum ballot question for the April 4, 2023, election. The Board of Education spent the past several months reviewing fiscal data and five-year budget projection models that indicated budget shortfalls due to no increase per pupil in state aid for students the past two years, ongoing uncertainty regarding the legislative funding of Wisconsin schools in the future, and the need to hire and retain quality staff members. Fiscal forecasts indicate the continued increase in Equalization Aid as a percentage of the revenue limit, which will have a neutral effect on the tax levy. The data sets and school funding presentations used by the Board for discussion are available on our TASD website (here).

A community informational program focused on the Operational Referendum will be implemented by the Board of Education January 2023 through March 2023. This will include in person meetings throughout our communities, print publications, and electronic media.

A four year non-recurring operational referendum is an investment in our children and future. This would continue the District’s long standing commitment to strong stewardship of taxpayer dollars and strategic fiscal planning ensuring our District offers ongoing educational programs and operational services providing Tomah Area School District students high quality student learning, every child, every day.

Enjoy Winter Break!

- Dr. Hanson

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• TASD EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM:

• Tomah Area School District utilizes the Infinite Campus student management system to send inclement weather messages and emergency information to parents and guardians. Learn more about setting or updating your notification preferences here.

Tomah Area School District

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HAPPENING IN OUR DISTRICT

THS JAG students work on a community service project which involved preparing for Tomah’s Special Christmas (a celebration of students and families with different abilities). Students stuffed baggies with ten smiley tickets and scratch off cards, made posters for game stations and wrapped tissue boxes for ticket collection! The students were thrilled and extremely excited to help.

Each year, Susan Moser, a teacher at LaGrange, organizes a gingerbread house making day. Each of the students get to make their own gingerbread house.

“The Gingerbread Man got loose in the school and decided to leave clues for us. The clues lead us around to places we could run, and run, to the place where someone answers phone calls with a friendly face, a place we can find and read lots of books, and last but not lease back to our classroom. However, he outsmarted us and was gone before we got back. He did leave us all gingerbread treats that he made. We really enjoyed them, but were very sad we didn’t catch him.”

-Ms. Schultz, Warrens & Noah’s Ark 4K

Ms. Holmquist’s 7th Grade ELA class practiced giving quality feedback to their peers. The assignment consisted of writing a narrative, then reading their classmates’ and analyzing the writing to provide constructive feedback.

Ms. Harlos’ E2 class at TAMS donated 20 handmade blankets to Tomah Community Giving Tree for their annual community service project. Pictured: Ms. Harlos’ 4th-6th grade class, Officer Perkins, K-9 Officer Victor, and Officer Mashall.

Students in Ms. Perkins environmental chemistry class (THS) are currently studying air pollution. In this lab, students were testing the effect of acid rain on the sprouting of bean seeds by testing them in different pH solutions of vinegar.

ACROSS DISTRICT the

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Three 6th grade band students saved up their class-incentive points and purchased the ability to teach band class for a day! During their band class, the three led warm-ups, auctioned off items, and facilitated “who played it better” challenges between sections of the band. As part of their “rules” for leading class, the three “teachers” got to drink hot chocolate and wear bowties while they taught.

- Ms. Kate Prihoda, TMS Band

“I created a photography-themed bingo game and both my classes played today. They had a blast and won some amazing prizes. They were super excited about the chili and ramen.”

- Ms. Christian, THS Mass Communications

Note: Trust Ms. Christian on the prizes. She knows her students!

The

flag pole was frozen at Warrens Elementary. Two Safety Patrollers hold up the flag for the daily gathering of all students to recite the Pledge of Allegience together.

Another TMS Band Incentive cash-in: 6th Grade Band students earned 75 Pesos (our classroom currency) and “purchased” the Ultimate Mario Kart Party in the band room! The three students took on Ms. Prihoda, Ms. Schraufnagel, and student teacher Mr. Zalewksi in a battle for the best racer.